Mining shield-supporter

ABSTRACT

A shield supporter for use in cutting a tunnel in which the assembling and installation of the shield supporter as well as the setting of beams for a main frame and foot frames in a mining shaft or tunnel are carried out, without interrupting the running of a cutting machine, and which is usable in any place, irrespective of earth bedding.

United States Patent [1 1 Fujimori [451 May 27, 1975 MINING SI-IIELD-SUPPORTER [75] Inventor:

[73] Assignee: Taiheiyo Coal Mining Co., Ltd.,

Japan 22 Filed: Nov. 23, 1973 21 Appl. No.: 418,766

Masao Fujimori, Tokyo, Japan [52] U.S. Cl. 61/45 R; 61/63 [51] Int. Cl E21d 15/02; E21d 15/58 [58] Field of Search 61/45 C, 45 A, 45 D, 84, 61/85, 42

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2 ,997,853 8/1961 Kemper 61/84 3,365,895 l/1968 Jacobs 3,373,571 3/1968 Records 61/84 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 768,071 7/1934 France 61/84 1,299,443 6/ 1962 France 61/45 C 943,531 12/1963 United Kingdom.... 61/45 C 986,448 3/1965 United Kingdom 61/45 C Primary Examiner-Dennis L. Taylor Attorney, Agent, or Firm-George B. Oujevolk [57] ABSTRACT A shield supporter for use in cutting a tunnel in which the assembling and installation of the shield supporter as well as the setting of beams for a main frame and foot frames in a mining shaft or tunnel are carried out, without interrupting the running of a cutting machine, and which is usable in any place, irrespective of earth bedding.

1 Claim, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEUHAY 27 1915 SHEET MINING SHIELD-SUPPORTER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a shield supporter for use in the tunnel cutting.

Hitherto, in mining work or tunnel construction work, the backward transportation and the assembling of a shield supporter and main frame required consid erable time, resulting in lowering cutting efficiency of the cutting machine which was used for such work.

The conventional cutting, self-advancing supporter also has the shortcoming that pressure is repetitively exerted on the roof of the mining road, leading to worsening of the roof condition.

To solve the above-described problem, it is an object of the present invention to provide a shield supporter which is simple in installation and removal, and in which the setting of beams for a main frame and foot frames may be done at the rear of the shield supporter.

To increase the cutting efficiency of the cutting machine, improvements are made in the way of setting of beams for a main frame and foot frames as well as the backward transportation. In other words, the setting of beams for a main frame and foot frames is conducted by using the shield supporter, simultaneously with the cutting work, and thus the continuous running ofa cutting machine is permitted.

In the conventional shuttle system, the shuttle car travels between a distance of 50 to 120m from the load ing spot to the belt-conveyor in the rear, and the running of the cutting machine must be interrupted on such occasions. According to the present invention, a combination of an extensible belt conveyor, bridge conveyor and shuttle car makes possible a continuous transporting system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a front view showing the installing of a shield supporter for use in cutting, according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the shield supporter for use in cutting, shown in a contracted status;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a mining shield supporter carrier, according to the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an essential part of the mining shield supporter carrier, according to the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a side elevation illustrating the arrangement of the shield supporter, a main frame and face cutting equipments in a tunnel; and,

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view taken along the line A-A of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a shield supporter herein contemplated is composed of a central semi-ellipse member 2, and side semi-ellipse members 3,3 connected with coupling members 4,4 which are in turn journaled in opposite sides of the central semi-ellipse member 2, respectively. Sliding blocks 5,5 are incorporated in the left and right side of semi-ellipse members 3,3, respectively, and each adapted to be slidable relative to an arcuate inner wall of each semi-ellipse member 3 or 3'. The sliding blocks 5,5 have lower ends, on which the upper ends of cylinders 7,7 are journaled by pins 6,6, respectively. Each cylinder 7 or 7' receives therein an iron prop 8 or 8 in a manner of permitting an upward and downward sliding motion thereof within each cylinder. The aforementioned sliding blocks 5,5 have upper ends, on which piston rods 10,10 of shifters are journaled by pins 9,9, respectively. Cylinders 11,11, each of which receives therein the aforementioned piston rod 10 or 10, are connected with pins 12,12 which are in turn journaled in the inner walls of leftand right-hands of the aforesaid central crown member 2.

A mining shield supporter carrier, 40, as shown in FIG. 3 is used for assembling and installing the shield supporter l and at the same time used for loading thereon beams 13 for a main frame and the foot frames 38 as well as beam stocks therefor which are to be assembled and fixed after the removal of the shield supporter. The carrier is equipped with tire units consisting of four wheels 15 each installed on a lower portion of each member pendent from an arch-shaped member 14. The drive of said tire unit causes the rotation of hydraulic motors (not shown) be means of control valves 17,17 which are positioned leftwards and rightwards of the arch-shaped member 14 and which are attached to hydraulic pumps 16,16.

The aforesaid carrier 40 is equipped with a sliding base mechanism 18 on its top portion and a hydraulic lift 19 which rests on a sliding base member 25 slidable frontwards and rearwards.

The sliding base mechanism 18 is composed of a first sliding mechanism and a second sliding mechanism. The first sliding mechanism consists of a pair of first stationary guide members 20,20 each having an inverted L shape in cross section and rigid with the top portion of the carrier 40 and a pair of first movable guide members 21,21 each having an inverted L shape in cross section and rigid with a sliding base plate 22 in such a manner as to fit in the stationary guide members, said sliding base plate being adapted to be slid to the left and to the right with respect to the carrier. The second sliding mechanism consists of a pair of second stationary guide members 23,23 each having an inverted L shape in cross section and rigidly mounted on the upper surface of the sliding base plate 22 in the direction of crossing the first guidemembers, and a pair of movable guide member 24,24 each having an inverted L shape in cross section and rigid with the frontward and rearward sliding base member 25, in such a manner as to fit in the second stationary guide members. Piston rods 26 of a first slide jack are connected with pins, each of which is in turn journaled on one end of the aforesaid leftward and rightward sliding base member 22, with cylinders 27 opposite said piston-rods being connected with pins, each of which is journaled in each side wall of the top portion of the carrier 40. Cylinders 28,28 of a second slide jack are connected with pins which are in turn journaled on end portions of the aforesaid leftward and rightward sliding base plate 22, with piston rods 29 thereof being connected with pins which are in turn journaled on end portions of frontward and rearward sliding base member 25.

Mounted on a base plate 32 of the carrier 40, is a crane unit 30, the crane unit 30 serving to lift beams for the main frame and the foot frames in binding status and to load the same on a beam storing unit 31 disposed rearwards of said crane unit and on the upper portion of the aforesaid carrier, thereby facilitating the transportation of beams or foot frame beams.

The crane unit 30 is equipped with a mechanism such as a jack used for moving a winch arm vertically.

These are driven by operating control valves 17.

There is a capstan 33 attached on the reverse side of base plate 32 of the carrier 40 and a reel drum 34 for a cable used as motive power for the carrier, at 35 a scaffolding board provided on the carrier, at 36,36 motors for driving hydraulic pumps 16,16.

As shown in FIG. 5, one of face cutting machines, for example, a continuous miner 37 is in advance of the carrier 40 while a bridge conveyor 41 extends backwards from the carrier 40 to a rear conveyor of the face cutting machine or to a transport machine located in the rear, such as a shuttle car 42. The shuttle car 42 is normally maintained stationary in a rear position at a distance of about 7 to 10 m from the face cutting machine, without traveling between the cutting machine and the rear conveyor (the shuttle car in the present invention is so arranged as not to travel). The chain conveyor of the shuttle car, in this case, is used as an intermediate conveyor.

To the rear of the shuttle car 42 is a belt conveyor 43.

An extensible belt conveyor embraces therein a belt of lOOm in its entire length and is mounted on the rear portion of a driving section and a tail unit is attached to the shuttle car 42, such that the belt may be extended, when the shuttle car 42 is shifted.

Brackets having an upper and lower swingeable mechanisms are provided in a tip portion of rearconveyor of the cutting machine. The aforesaid bridge conveyor 41 having a length of 7 to 10m is connected to the rear-conveyor of the cutting machine, in a manner to cause no interference with the shifting of the cutting machine, and is guided by guide-rails mounted in the shuttle car 42.

In addition, the shuttle car and the bridge-conveyor are arranged, with the whole length of the bridge conveyor being lapped by the shuttle car passing under the bridge conveyor thereby allowing the shifting of the cutting machine by such a distance, independently of the belt-conveyor.

Prior to the bridge conveyor being unlapped from over the shuttle car by the shift of the cutting machine, the tail unit is moved by shuttle car, to extend the extensible-conveyor.

The installation of the mining shield-supporter, according to the present invention is done in a leapfrog operation. Upon the termination of attaching foot frames to the beams 13 for the main frame of the rearmost shield supporter 1 among a series of shield supporters 1,1. which have been already set, the carrier 40 equipped with the arch-shaped frame is advanced beneath the frame of the rearmost shield supporter, so as to shift the shield supporter 1 to the inner portion of the workface. Then, the cylinders 27 and 28 of the sliding base jacks are actuated to move respective sliding base plates frontward and rearward of left and right, thereby aligning a center of hydraulic lift 19 of the carrier 40 with that of the shield supporter 1.

After the carrier 40 has been positioned in place, the hydraulic lift 19 is moved upwardly to receive thereon the shield support 1.

Then, fluid is fed under pressure into cylinders 7,7 of the shield supporter 1, followed by shifting upwardly the iron rods 8,8, to be contracted.

Subsequently, fluid is fed under pressure into cylinders 11,11 of the upper shifter, to thereby shift the piston rods 10,10 upwardly in the direction of contraction, together with the sliding blocks 5,5. Thus, simultaneously with the upward motion of the aforesaid iron rods 8,8, the side semi-ellipse members 3,3 of the shield supporter 1 are slightly collapsed by way of coupling members 4,4 into the contracted status, as shown in FIG. 2.

After the side semi-ellipse members 3,3 have been fully folded, the hydraulic lift 19 on the carrier 40 is lowered.

The carrier 40 is advanced through the inside of a row of shield supporters 1,1. up to the space of the inner portion of the workface with the rearmost shield supporter 1 resting on the hydraulic lift 19.

Then, the cylinders 27 and 28 of the sliding base jacks are actuated to move the sliding base plates to the front and rear or left and right, so as to align the center of the shield supporter 1 with that of the gate road, after which cylinders 11,11 are actuated to move the sliding blocks 5,5 downwardly, and at the same time, to stretch the side semi-ellipse members 3,3outwardly.

Thereafter, the cylinders 7,7 are actuated to move the iron-rods 8,8 downwardly, and thus the shield supporter 1 is set in the cutting spot in the workface.

With the shield supporter being thus installed, foot frames 38 of the main frame are installed, and then beams 13 for the main frame are fixed on the ends of foot frames 38, thus preventing the demolishing of the wall of the face.

For the purpose of preventing the falling-down of the cylinders 7,7 in the inward direction when the aforesaid iron-rods 8,8 are slid upwardly, leaf springs 39,39 are connected at their ends to the sliding blocks 5,5.

The procedures as described are repeated in leapfrog sequence, and thus contraction, advance and installation of a shield supporter are continuously achieved.

The setting of beams for the main frame and the setting of foot frames are conducted simultaneously and in association with the procedures for contracting, advancing and installing the shield supporter, which is one of the features of the present invention.

I claim:

1. A shield supporter for a mining tunnel for use in the cutting of a workface in a tunnel said shield supporter comprising:

a. a central semi-ellipse member (2) with connecting ends;

b. side semi-ellipse members (3) with inner walls connected by coupling members to said opposite connecting ends of said central semi-ellipse mem ber;

c. sliding blocks (5) with upper and lower ends mounted on inner wall of each side semi-ellipse member and adapted to slide freely;

d. shifter including cylinders (11) and piston rods each having one end journaled on an upper end of each sliding block and the other end journaled on the said central semi-ellipse member; and,

e. lower cylinders and rods (7, 8) having one end journaled on the lower end of each of said sliding block, and adapted to be vertically movable. 65 v 1 

1. A shield supporter for a mining tunnel for use in the cutting of a workface in a tunnel said shield supporter comprising: a. a central semi-ellipse member (2) with connecting ends; b. side semi-ellipse members (3) with inner walls connected by coupling members to said opposite connecting ends of said central semi-ellipse member; c. sliding blocks (5) with upper and lower ends mounted on inner wall of each side semi-ellipse member and adapted to slide freely; d. shifter including cylinders (11) and piston rods (10) each having one end journaled on an upper end of each sliding block and the other end journaled on the said central semi-ellipse member; and, e. lower cylinders and rods (7, 8) having one end journaled on the lower end of each of said sliding block, and adapted to be vertically movable. 